To get to the tour, we thought we were going to have to hike three miles across country (to avoid the blocked-off roads) to a place where the riders were going up-hill and around a roundabout (so that we'd see the riders for more than a split second.) But the good part about the weather, which was very cold and very wet, was that it kept people home, and we were able to park within a half-mile of the course.
The caravane, the "parade" before the race where they throw all kinds of junk and some cool stuff at the waiting people, was running late, and we got a t-shirt and a bag (along with a key chain, two cheapo bracelets, and several newspapers), all from sponsors of the tour. The first picture, upper right, is of the "Cochonou" cars, a big sponsor of the race. (They make delicious dry sausage. Unfortunately they were not throwing sausages.)
We placed ourselves up a steep hill with a good view of two parts of the road with a roundabout in the middle. (If you watched the race, there was a giant snow man in the middle of the roundabout. We were just up the hill behind that.)
The first group of three--one of which came in first in Colmar--passed by, and by some miracle my camera actually focused on the riders instead of the spectators (see below).
We were soaked but had a great time. Can't wait to take a hot shower!
You were probably more wet than me in the Baseball game! You saw - one more time - bad weather in Vosges, I'm sorry for than! It is time for us to look at the TV, to try to see you...
ReplyDeleteLet me know if you see us! There was a camera man near us, but he didn't film us.
ReplyDeleteWe looked hard for you - but just missed that leg of the race when we turned on the TV again! The timing was hard while we were in the northeast playing ourselves!
ReplyDeleteI don't think they showed that part of the race anyway--I think the focus was more on the last part. It would have been hard to recognize us anyway--hoods up, coats closed with the rain!
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